A Quick Look At How Some Countries Advertise Food To Kids

[caramba]

Thought this was depressingly interesting...


A QUICK LOOK AT HOW SOME COUNTRIES ADVERTISE FOOD TO KIDS

Ireland: All television commercials for fast food and candy are banned.

Sweden/Norway/Austria/Luxembourg: All television advertising to children is banned.

Belgium/France/Portugal/Vietnam: All marketing is banned in schools.

United States: Spending more per child than any other nation in the world, the U.S. plugs $15 billion per year into marketing food to kids, which is more than what it would cost to provide health insurance for all uninsured children

http://www.onegrp.com/front.aspx?SessionID=542504191&ID=NoticeBoard


I always knew the Irish were beautiful people :D . Not sure how Australia would fare :confused: ...probably up there with USA. :( ..Though we do have ads for fruit on TV but they pale in comparisom to all the junk food ads...Just ANOTHER obstacle, negative influence on the "kids to Raw" path... :(

[spin_ducky]

That is so sad.

Even on PBS it isn't safe anymore. Chuck E Cheese and Mc Donald's have gotten into sponsering the shows (to name just a couple) and air commercials under the guise of "this show is brought to you by...."

Commercials are my biggest challenge with my children, they want EVERYTHING they see on TV. Thank goodness they like to play outside so much!!!

[askcassyfirst]

I shared your statistics with my staff today...It stimulated a great conversation..

Thank you.

Cassy :)

[SedonaSun]

This reminded me that McDonalds is sponsoring school signs here. These are the "school-front" signs and sometimes with the marquee, too. I'm assuming McD's pays for the sign or donates a substantial amount to have their own little billboard on the school sign. Sick! And shame on the schools for stooping to any level for money.

[RawNaturale]

It's beyond me that Mc D's is now in HOSPITALS for cryin' out loud. That "diet" is what gets most of us to the hospital in the first place.

[SamL]

How sad & what would it take to turn the situation around, could we?
It's a lost cause, the food chains have become too powerful and everything revolves around $$

[Sharon in Colorado]

Caramba - I'll say! Ay Caramba!

I forwarded that to a few people.

But, America isn't doing it, corporate greed is what is doing it. It is saddening that "America" gets blamed. Because we live in a country where freedom and self-reliance reins, the whole country has to get blamed for individuals decisions. That's just not right!

It is ironic that when people do the right stuff, they get acknowledged for it, but when others do wrong, it is "America's" fault! :confused:

[SamL]

Australia is just as heavy on the advertising candy boxed cereals to kids with cartoon characters promising it's loaded with nutrition, happy meals that come with their favorite toys, that match some kind of latest movie just released, all the junk that makes our kids sick. McDonalds even sponsors sick kids in some strange twist of circumstances, "Ronald McDonald house"


It is a bit sad for our kids who can't make many choices of their own accord. It's near impossible to sheild our kids from it all the time.
Posters, billboards, commercials, competitions, gimmicks..

[caramba]

But, America isn't doing it, corporate greed is what is doing it. It is saddening that "America" gets blamed. Because we live in a country where freedom and self-reliance reins, the whole country has to get blamed for individuals decisions. That's just not right!

Totally understand this one Sharon...wasn't pointing the finger at anyone! ;) Like Sam said, Australia is just as bad...our "policy makers" are all gutless slaves to big industry...Put childrens (and adults!) health at risk before they'd dare offend their mates in big business...Pathetic..

All the links between schools (even hospitals) and fast food manufacturers are outlined well in No Logo (and oldie but a goodie!) and McLibel (basically any book or resource about the McLibel case...)

ANother reason to look at homeschooling or...I've found a wonderful independent school in the Blue Mts 2 hours from Sydney...looks like a move is on the cards..!! ..whoops...getting OT here...

[caramba]

Interesting...I just found this article on the Sydney Morning Herald website...our opposition is "backing away" from it's pre-election promise to ban junk food ads to kids...suprise, suprise :rolleyes:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Labor-loses-appetite-for-banning-junk-food-ads-for-children/2005/02/18/1108709436151.html

[JustMe]

I found some tips on how to make your kids feel a little more "in" when it comes to healthy food. I totally forgot where I saw it, but the lady suggested an examlpe for oatmeal. she said to buy some small toys and scoop an individual serving into a sandwich bag/ziploc and put the toy in there - just like sugar cereals. I can't remember if she had any other good tips, but I'm sure this board can think of some since we are all creative ;)

[catherinethegreat]

yet another reason I've thought about moving out of this country!
So so sad!!!

Thanks for posting this!

*c

[Sharon in Colorado]

Totally understand this one Sharon...wasn't pointing the finger at anyone! ;)

Oh, Caramba, didn't mean you did that. It was the quote. It said "the US plugs xx"

I recall seeing a news brief about how Kraft agreed to reduce their marketing toward children. I still don't buy the stuff and was rather put off when hubby and the kids went shopping last week and brought back some cheese from Kraft. If they are going to eat junky cheese anyway, I'd rather buy Sargento or Borden or another brand not known for their GMO testing on humans.

[caramba]

Yep..and I hate it when people brandish those "Cheesestick" things around my kids. I don't give them even "proper" cheese but they should be done for false labelling...there's nothing "cheesy" about that stuff...LOL!

[Sweet lips]

I am so upset with the new splenda commerical which uses children to adverstise the product -saying it is better than children, and adverstising it for baking - not happy with that all. I have people who have argued at me for telling them that splenda should be banned.